Baseball strike zone target



Sept. 27, 1932. A KLEB 1,879,316

BASEBALL STRIKE ZONE TARGET Filed June 20, 1931 N x I a Q Q a W Q x o Q N N 9 W 3* H w s v 5 R a w k l a m Q R 31% N gwuantop N awake/1.1765,

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Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES GEORGE A. KL EB, OF ST. LOUIS,.MISSOU RI BASEBALL STRIKE ZONE TARGET Application filed June 20, 1931. Serial No. 545,687.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in base-ball strike zone targets, the peculiarities of which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The main objects of my invention are first, to provide a device for practice work by pitchers that will indicate how they are pitching the balls second, to indicate whether the pitched balls are passing the plate at 1C heights that would be called balls (too high or too low) and whether they would be over the plate in the strike zone (knee-high to shoulder), and be called strikes; third, to provide an adjustable sight ball indicating any height in the strike zone; fourth, to provide such a device that can be used with a catcher, or by the pitcher alone; fifth,- to provide aback stop and an incline that will return the pitched balls gravitatingly to the pitcher; sixth, to provide such a portable device that can be disposed in any'suitable location indoors or out; and seventh, to provide other objects and construction hereinafter described and claimed. a 2 In the accompanying drawing, on which like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts,

Fig. 1 representsa perspective view illustrating the use of my device; 7

Fig. 2, a front view of mytarget;

Fig. 3, a plan view of the same;

Fig. 4, a detail of the post bearing in the disc base; and

Fig. 5, a detail of one end of a detachable elastic cable connection.

When pitchers take up their practice work in the spring to regaintheir speed and control, they pitch to a catcher over a platerepresenting the home plate, and round into pitching form. Also prospective pitchers follow the same method and by continued practice obtain the desired speed and control of the ball,

My device is designed to indicate whether the ball is pitched over the home plate in the strike zone between the knee and shoulder of the batter, and to provide a sight ball adjustable to difierent heights in said zone, so that the pitcher as he obtains control, will have an indicated height in said zone at which he is to pitch the ball. Furthermore, my device provides means by which the'pitcher can carry out his practice work alone with out'the aidofa catcher to return the pitched .balls to him :in-the pitchers box located at 5 the regular distance (,60, feet) from the home plate. for adjustment to practice work by boys in which the strike zone Would be less than for :full-growubasie-ball players. -I also provide such a device in a portable form so that it maybe located indoors or out in any suitable location forsuch practicework. Thus it can betransported in knock down condition and readily set upfor use in any suitable location;

4 provided with an end portion corresponding in'size with. the home plate and disposed vertically over the same. This end portion may be formed by a pipe mounted in a fourway connection 5 and providing multiple ends in which are secured eyes- 6 vertically over the corresponding eyes 7 at the corners of the home plate 1. This end portion of the arm. 4 may be otherwise formed.

I provide vertically disposed cords 8, preferably of elastic cable; and having hooks 9 with swivel connection to said cords, adapted to be detachably connected respectively to .the eyes 6 and 7 in the end portion of the arm 4 and the home-plate. These cords-have a middle portion 10 presenting a different color or. appearance for a'distance approximately =thatbetween the knee and the shoulder of a batter, representing the strike zone. Thus 'the'middle portions 10 of the cords may be of red and the end portions above and below may be white. or other neutral color, so that the zone portions of the said cords may stand out clearly to the pitcher located'in his pitchers box 11. Thus the pitcher will have .-;a'

Furthermore, my device is adapted strike zone clearly indicated as the target for pitching the balls, and can see whether they come within said zone and over the home plate and constitute strikes. Pitched balls passing outside of said cords would be wild throws and called balls.

As the pitcher regains his control, and desires to pitch at any definite height within the strike zone indicated by said cords, a sight ball 12 is adjustably mounted adjacent to the sight zone, so that it may be operated by suitable means to dispose it at any desired height at which the pitcher aims to deliver the ball. This sight ballispreferably mounted on a cord 13 passing through eyes 1 1 in breaks in front of the home base curved lines 17 are provided from the front sides of the home plate and meeting at a point about 6 feet in front of the plate. These lines may be of white cord or otherwise andserve to inform the pitcher whether his curve ball breaks as desired.

I preferably provide for the practice work of the pitcher by himself without the aid of a catcher, by mounting a back stop 18 of canvas, net or other suitable material, in a loosely hung condition, preferably upon a frame 19 formed by posts inserted in the ground, or carried by suitable cross braces, forming brackets 20, as shown in Fig. 1. Such a portable backstop may thus be located in any desired position back of the home plate.

of my target, I provide a bearing 25 (Fig.

4 in the disc base, in which is mounted the lower end of the vertical post 3, the bottom end of which has a fixed collar 26 and a' matching collar 27 above said bearing. In

order to fix the post from turning I provide collar is tightened by itsbolt 30. Other forms of bearing may be used.

Instead of lifting the base and post to another location, it is made more readily portable by using the disc base as a wheel while grasping the post in the hands and pulling it from its vertical position.

Thus when the clamping means is loosened, the post 3 may be turned down by hand to horizontal, and the disc base will serve as a wheel for moving the target to any location.

For instance, it may be located on the opposite side of the home plate from that shown in Fig. 1. As the disc base is of concrete or other material having considerable Weight, this wheeling action facilitates movement of the target as described.

WVhile the height of the post 3 is made to correspond with that of a full grown batter, I provide for adjusting this post and its arm vertically to adapt it for younger players who require a strike zone of lesser vertical height than that suited to full grown players. I have therefore shown the vertical post in two sections, the larger section 3 receiving the upper section 3 as shown inFig. 4. A set screw 31 serves to hold the upper section of the post in its vertically adjusted position, or other clamping means may be used. The elastic cords will shorten automatically and lessen the height of the strike zone, or such shortening of the strike zone may otherwise be obtained, such as by using shorter cords detachably connected to the home plate and end portion of the arm 4, as previously described, to adapt it for the use of kids.

The post 3 and arm 4 are preferably con-' nected at their intersection by an elbow 32, and may be readily unscrewed, and the cable cords detached from the arm and home plate when taken down forpacking or transportation. from the base by removing the collars.

I have shown the post as divided into feet for instance, to facilitate the location of Likewise the post may be removed 1 the sight ball at any desired level or height from the ground. 7

hen the base and post are removed from one side of the home plate to the other, only the front or centrally disposed cordin the central vertical plane of the home plate, is required to be changed in its attachment to the opposite. hook6,'which has become the front of the end portion of the arm, and located over the front corner and eye 7 of the home plate.

I do not limit myself to the construction herein shown except by the-appended'claims. I claim: 1. A device of thecharacter described comprising multiplevertical cords disposed above a homeplate and presenting a different appearance in the middle portionthan at the ends to indicate the strike zone, a vertically adjustable ball mounted adjacent to said cords forv a sight ballindi'cating' any desired,

level in said zone, and means to mount said.

ball adjustably, substantially as described.

2. A device of the character described comprising a portable home plate having eyes at its corners, a portable base disposed adjacent thereto, a vertical post mounted in said base and having an arm with multiple ends having eyes correspondingly disposed vertically over said home plate, vertical elastic cable cords having end hooks engaging the respective eyes in the home plate and multiple ends on said arm and presenting a different appearance in their middle portion than at their ends to indicate the strike zone, a vertical adjustable ball mounted adjacent to said cords for a sight ball, and means to mount said ball adjustably to indicate any desired height in the sight zone, substantially as described.

3. A device of the character described comprising a portable home plate, aportable disc base having a central bearing, a post on which said disc base is rotatively mounted and having an arm with an end portion corresponding to and disposed over the corners of said home plate, multiple Vertical cords detach ably connected to said home plate and the overhead end portion of said arm respectively, and clamping means to fix said post in its bearing temporarily and when loosened allow rotation of said base on the post for wheeling to a desired location, substantially as described. V V

4Q A device of the character described comprising multiple vertical cords disposed over a home plate and their middle portions indicating the strike zone, a frame supporting said cords, a vertical adjustable sight ball carried by said frame adjacent said strike zone, and adjustable means for said sight ball to cause said ball to indicate any desired height in the strike zone for the pitched ball, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature. 7

GEORGE A. KLEB. 

